FAU Holds Workshop on Emerging Technology, Policy, and Professional Licensure in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla., April 24, 2026 — Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering (CEGE) hosted a high-impact workshop on April 24 at the FAU Jupiter campus focused on industry–academic collaboration on emerging technology and policy, with an emphasis on the path to professional engineering and surveying licensure. The event was titled “Industry–Academic Collaboration on Emerging Tech & Policy and the Path to Professional Licensure,” and highlighted the goal of promoting Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Professional Surveyor (P.S.) licensure readiness. The workshop was sponsored by NCEES Foundation and FSMS.

The program was organized as a half-day forum bringing together academic researchers, industry professionals, and students for panel discussions, oral presentations, and live demonstrations.

The morning opened with registration and welcome. Dr. Kaisar delivered opening remarks, while Dr. Su presented an overview of the workshop’s goals and schedule. 

The first major session was a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Bloetscher. Panelists included Mr. Bryan Merritt, Mr. Richard Pryce, Mr. Jim Sullivan, Dr. Levente Juhasz, Dr. Sudhagar Nagarajan, and Dr. Ramesh Teegavarapu, followed by a moderated discussion on key themes and a brief audience question-and-answer segment.

A broad lineup of oral presentations was scheduled after the panel discussion, with Dr. Su serving as moderator. Topics throughout the morning included AI, UAS, GIS, GeoAI, big data analytics, engineering education, Survey/GIS integration, and the ethical impact of AI and new technologies on professional engineering practice. The program also offered 3 continuing education credits for Florida PSM participants.

The event concluded with a live demonstration session moderated by Dr. nagarajan and led by professionals from Keith & Associates, Hazen and Sawyer, and Duncan Parnell, followed by closing remarks and lunch. The workshop’s theme emphasized connecting drones, AI, GIS, and regulatory insight to help prepare the next generation of licensed professionals.

By combining university faculty, industry speakers, panel discussion, and live demonstrations, the event positioned FAU Jupiter as a venue for discussions on how emerging technologies are reshaping engineering and surveying education, professional practice, and regulatory preparation.